Winch bar with offset handle

ABSTRACT

A winch bar for use together with a strap winch to tighten a load-securing strap for a flatbed truck or trailer. In addition to an offset angle, the winch bar also includes one or more compensating angles establishing an obstacle clearance area defined by a laterally offset portion of the winch bar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/321,654,which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/070,296, filed Feb. 14, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to winch bars. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to winch bars for strap winches such as areused on flatbed trailers.

Flatbed trailers of various lengths, widths, and load capacities areused to transport materials of various types from one location toanother, both on and off roadways.

Loads are usually secured to such flatbed trailers by one or more strapsof woven webbing extending over a load from one side of the trailer tothe other side. Each strap is tightened by being wound on a strap winchsuch as the strap winch 18 shown in FIGS. 1-3, mounted at one side ofthe trailer. Such a strap winch usually includes a ratchet mechanismincluding a ratchet wheel 20 and a related pawl 22 on a spool 24, and aspool drive hub, or winch bar receiver 26, so that a winch bar can beused as a lever to turn the winch spool 24 and tighten the strap. Thespool drive hub, or winch bar receiver 26 usually has two intersectingthrough-bores orthogonal to each other and to the axis of rotation 28 ofthe winch spool 24. The through-bores thus define four winch bar sockets30 separated from one another by a quarter revolution of the winch barreceiver 26.

A strap 32 fastened to one side of the trailer is thrown over a loaditem on the trailer and the other end is laced through strap slots 34 onthe winch spool 24. Such strap slots 34 and spools 24 may be ofdifferent types, such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but arefunctionally similar. A spool drive engagement portion 36 of the winchbar is inserted into one of the winch bar sockets 30 in the winch drivehub, or receiver 26, and moved in a downward direction as seen in FIG.3, winding the strap 32 around the spool 24 and tightening the strap 32to hold the load item on the trailer. The winch bar sockets 30 aretypically fashioned so that the spool drive engagement portion 36 of thewinch bar, when inserted into one of these sockets, is perpendicular tothe axis of rotation 28 of the winch spool. The spool ratchet mechanism,as shown in FIG. 1, holds the spool 34 to retain the tightened strap 32after the winch bar has been moved in a downward direction.

A typical conventional winch bar 38, shown in FIG. 4, for use with asuch a strap winch 18 may have a winch spool drive engagement portion36, a lever arm portion 40, and a grip or handle portion 42. It may be asteel bar approximately 31-40 inches in length 44. The winch spool driveengagement portion 36 may be tapered and may typically have a length 46of approximately 3½ to 4 inches, to mate with a typical strap winch 18.The drive engagement portion 36 is typically mounted at an offset angle48 in the range of approximately 140 degrees to 170 degrees relative toa central longitudinal axis 50 of the lever arm portion 40.

On a typical winch bar 38 the offset angle 48 is defined adjacent thespool drive engagement portion 36, between it and the lever arm portion40 of the winch bar. The offset angle 48 allows such a winch bar 38 tobe used in two basic positions: angled up and angled down. This allowsthe winch bar to clear obstacles such as tires, trailer fenders, andboxes mounted on the sides of a trailer.

In order for a load securing strap 32 to be tightened on the strap winch18, the spool 26 must be able to be turned at least a quarter rotationand then held by the ratchet mechanism, so that the winch bar can beinserted into the next socket 30 for further tightening. Often, due toobstacles such as tires, etc., mentioned above, the winch bar 38 cannotrotate the winch spool a quarter revolution without being changed fromthe angled down portion to the angled up position, or vice versa, in thesame socket 30.

Use of a conventional winch bar 38 presents several hazards. The mostimportant hazard is presented by use of the winch bar 38 in the “angledup” position as the winch bar 38 is shown in FIG. 5. If there is anymisalignment of downward force on the winch bar handle 42, to one sideor the other, the drive engagement portion 36 of the bar may slip in thewinch bar socket 30 and twist down, in a pivoting action, and anuncontrolled conical rotation of the winch bar handle portion 42 thussuddenly occurs, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6. This often causesthe winch bar user to fall towards the ground, potentially hitting hisor her upper body or face against the trailer, the winch bar, a fenderof the trailer, or even the ground. The user could thus sustain seriousphysical injury.

The next most important risk with use of conventional winch bars 38 isthat the tip of the spool drive engagement portion 36 may slip outradially from engagement in the socket 30 of the spool drive hub 26.Although typically a winch bar 38 has small ridges around its driveengagement portion 36, sometimes they are not adequate to keep the winchbar 38 engaged in a winch bar socket 30. As a result the winch bar 38can slip out when the user's pull on the winch bar to turn the winchspool 24 includes a great enough component directed radially outwardalong the spool drive engagement portion 36. Such slipping out may causethe winch bar user to fall towards the ground, potentially strikingvarious portions of himself or herself against the winch bar, trailer,etc., with a possibility of substantial injury.

Another considerable risk in use of a conventional winch bar 38 is thedownward slope of the handle portion 42 when the winch bar 38 is used inthe most commonly used position, angled down. As the user appliesdownward pressure on the winch bar handle portion 42, he or she tends tobe pushing his or her grip along the lever arm portion 40 and towardsthe outer end of the handle portion 42, instead of only perpendicular toit. This has a tendency of causing the user's grip to slip along thehandle portion 42, causing the user to fall towards the winch bar,trailer, and ground, thereby often sustaining injury.

A number of prior winch bars or winch bar-like devices have notadequately addressed the above-described risks.

Gaudreault, et al., U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0215848 discloses aleverage tool having a pair of opposite end portions, one of which canbe engaged with a strap spool drive, and the other of which is adaptedto engage a load binder handle to operate the load binder.

Murdock, et al., U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0074443 discloses astrap winch and a crank assembly removably connected to the strap winch.

Boydstun, IV, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,897 discloses a winch barproviding an indication when a sufficient force has been applied.

Treat, U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,847 discloses a winding apparatus including acrank that is used to quickly and conveniently wind cargo straps intocoils for storage.

Guenther, U.S. Pat. No. 6,916,143 discloses a speed handle, or crankused to rotate the strap spool of a strap winch on a flat bed trailer.

Im, U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,939 discloses a winch bar that has an insertionportion of non-circular cross-section, typically square or hexagonal,adapted to fit in similar openings of a winch spool so that the winchbar cannot twist relative to the winch drum. Im, U.S. Patent ApplicationNo. 2006/0091368 discloses a winch bar that may have an insertionportion of any of several different shapes adapted to fit in openings ofa winch spool.

Perkins, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,872 discloses a crank to drive a Spoolof a strap winch, to wind a strap on the spool for storage when thestrap is not being used to secure a load.

Childers, U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,339 also discloses a crank handle forspeed winding a strap back onto a strap winch for storage.

Guenther, U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,697 discloses a winch bar having twopositions of stable engagement with a strap winding winch.

Mosley, U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,470 discloses another strap winding crankfor winding a strap on a strap winch for storage.

Mocci, U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,637 discloses yet another crank for winding astrap onto a winch for storage.

Sumner, U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,437 discloses a winch bar for use withratcheting winches to tighten straps for securing cargo on truck beds.The winch bar is provided at one end with a hooked end member and acrank handle portion to assist in the rapidly winding a strap secured tothe winch spool.

Depoy, U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,488 discloses a winch bar having a lockingmechanism for securing the driving end portion of a winch bar in a drivesocket of a winch.

Whiteman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,829 discloses an extensible winch bar foruse in tightening the straps used for the securing loads on trucks.

Chan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,565 discloses a winch bar with a winchspool-engaging end portion shaped to engage a spool of a strap winchsecurely and to resist unintentional disengagement under strap-windingforce.

Edwards, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,154 discloses a winch bar for use on astrap winch. A second end of the bar includes a latch for engaging andoperating an over-center locking load binder.

Flippin, U.S. Pat. No. 2,838,281 shows a winch bar with an end portionshaped to mate with a corresponding socket in a winch.

Thus, there is a need for a winch bar that addresses and can reducerisks of using a conventional winch bar, including the risks mentionedabove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In response to some of the aforementioned shortcomings and disadvantagesof previously known winch bars, the applicant provides, as disclosedherein and defined by the claims that are included herein, a winch barincluding as one feature an offset portion, to fit around obstacles thatmight otherwise limit the range of movement of the winch bar as it isused to tighten a load strap on a strap winch on a flatbed trailer.

A winch bar that is one embodiment of the disclosure includes a winchdrive engagement portion insertable into a socket of a winch spool drivehub, or receiver; a reach portion connected to said drive engagementportion; and a handle connected to said reach portion, wherein the driveengagement portion is connected with the reach portion at an offsetangle; and the reach portion is connected with the handle at acompensating angle.

In one embodiment the handle intersects a longitudinal axis of the winchdrive engagement portion.

The compensating angle can place the longitudinal axis of the handle inline with the longitudinal axis of the winch drive engagement portion inone embodiment.

As another feature, one or more compensating angles may place a portionof the handle of a winch bar parallel with the central axis of the spooldrive engagement portion, reducing the tendency of the winch bar torotate down in response to force applied to the winch bar to turn thewinch spool, and providing a handle alignment that helps reduce theslope of the handle.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be more readilyunderstood upon consideration of the following detailed description ofembodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a strap winch mounted on a flatbedtrailer and showing the ratchet wheel and pawl at a left end of thestrap winch.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the strap winch shown in FIG. 1, showingthe right end of the winch and a drive hub including winch bar sockets.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the strap winch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showinga portion of a winch bar engaged drivingly with a socket defined by thespool drive hub.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a prior art winch bar.

FIG. 5 is a view of a winch bar such as that shown in FIG. 4 at the topof a strap-winding stroke of the winch bar used to tighten a loadsecuring strap on a strap winch such as the one shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the positions of the winchbar and of a user of the winch bar after the winch bar has slipped in asocket and moved through a conical rotation.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a winch bar embodying a feature ofthe present invention and including a compensating angle whose size isrelated to an offset angle of the winch bar.

FIG. 8A is a side elevational view of an alternative winch bar accordingto the present disclosure including a single compensating angle.

FIGS. 8B and 8C are side elevational views of other alternative winchbars according to the present disclosure, each including a singlecompensating angle and having dimensions somewhat different from thoseof the winch bar shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A shows another winch bar including two compensating angles thatis an embodiment of a feature of the present invention.

FIG. 9B and FIG. 9C are views similar to FIG. 9A, showing alternativewinch bars according to the present disclosure and each including twocompensating angles located at positions different from those in thewinch bar shown in FIG. 9A.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are side elevational views of additional alternativewinch bars according to the present disclosure, each including an offsetportion of the lever arm, and each of whose handle portions are locatedin collinear alignment with the central axis of the winch driveengagement portion of each.

FIG. 11 shows the use of a winch bar such as that shown in FIG. 7 totighten a strap on a strap winch where an obstacle has to be avoided inturning the winch spool far enough for the winch bar to be inserted in adifferent socket for a subsequent strap-winding stroke.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view showing one possible construction of anangled joint in a winch bar such as the ones shown herein.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational views of a portion of a winch bar similarto the one shown in FIG. 7, showing one type of construction of the barin the vicinity of a compensating angle.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are fragmentary views of a portion of a winch bar suchas that shown in FIG. 7 showing another manner of construction of acompensating angle portion of the winch bar.

FIG. 15 is a view of a winch bar constructed in another manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring again to the drawings which form a part of the disclosureherein, a winch bar 60 shown in FIG. 7 includes a winch drive engagementportion 62 that has a tip 64 and a root end 66 and defines a centrallongitudinal axis 68. The overall length 69 of the winch bar 60 may besimilar to that of the previously known winch bars such as the winch bar38 shown in FIG. 4, such as 31 to 40 inches, for example, although alength 69 in the range of 24-48 inches could also be useful, and alength 69 of 36 inches might be convenient in view of a common toolboxsize. The drive engagement portion 62 may be conical, tapered from aslightly larger diameter 70 at the root end 66 toward a smaller diameter71 near the tip 64, and may be circular in cross section as viewed alongthe central longitudinal axis 68. At the tip 64 a safety catch 72extends radially to a larger diameter 74 which may be similar to orslightly smaller than the diameter 70 at the root end. The safety catch72 may extend, as shown in FIG. 7, as a short, wide-angle, conical orflared flange at the tip 64, and will serve to engage a winch drive hubor receiver 26 of a strap winch 20 when the drive engagement portion 62is inserted into a drive socket 30 extending diametrically across thehub 26, so that the safety catch portion 72 protrudes on the oppositeside of the hub 26. Annular grooves 76 may encircle the winch driveengagement portion 62 to aid the safety catch 72 in resisting unintendedremoval of the drive engagement portion 62 from a socket 30 of a strapwinch drive hub 26.

Attached to and extending away from the root end 66 of the driveengagement portion 62 is an elongate portion of a lever arm of the winchbar 60 referred to herein for convenience as reach portion 80. A first,or winch, end 82 of the reach portion 80 is attached to the root end 66of the winch drive engagement portion 62, and an opposite second, orouter, end 84 is spaced apart from the first end 82 by a reach length 86which may be in the range of about 1-10 inches, preferably in the rangeof 4-10 inches, and most preferably about 8 inches, as shown in FIG. 7.The reach portion 80 has a reach portion central axis 88 intersectingthe central longitudinal axis 68 of the winch drive engagement portion62 in an offset angle 90, which as shown in FIG. 7, for example, isabout 160 degrees. The offset angle 90 may be somewhat larger or smallerthan shown in FIG. 7, being, for example, in the range of 100-165degrees, or more preferably in the range of about 140-165 degrees, aswill be better understood presently.

An elongate third portion 92 of the winch bar 60 is connected with theouter end 84 of the reach portion and extends further away from thewinch drive engagement portion 62 to an outer end 94 of the winch bar60. The elongate third portion 92 is an extension of the lever arm andincludes a longitudinal axis 96 that intersects the reach portioncentral axis 88 in a compensating angle 98 which is opposite indirection and of the same or nearly the same size as the offset angle90. The central longitudinal axis 68 of the drive engagement portion 62,the reach portion central axis 88, and the longitudinal axis 96 of theelongate third portion 92 of the winch bar 60 are preferably coplanar,so that the entire winch bar 60 is essentially in a single plane. Thelongitudinal axis 96 is thus at least nearly parallel with the centrallongitudinal axis of the drive engagement portion 62. A handle portion100 of the elongate third portion 92 may be knurled or provided withanother durable surface treatment to provide a secure grip for a user ofthe winch bar 60.

Depending upon the sizes of the offset angle 90 and compensating angle98, and depending on the length 86 of the reach portion 80, a lateraloffset distance 102 of a particular size is established and available toavoid interference of the winch bar 60 with an obstacle such as a tire,fender, etc., during use. The offset distance 102 thus provided may bein the range of 1-4 inches, and preferably about 2-3 inches, thus beingsignificantly less than the radius of a cone of rotation defined by thehandle portion 42 of the winch bar 38 as shown in FIGS. 4-6. Thus whilethe winch bar 60 shown in FIG. 7 would be able to spin if the winchdrive engagement portion 62 slips in a socket 30 of a winch spool drivehub 24, the resulting distance 104, about 6 inches, for example, throughwhich the handle portion 100 of the winch bar 60 can move between anangled-up position of the handle portion 100 as shown in solid line andan angled-down position shown in broken line, has shown through fieldevaluation to be insignificant and not likely to cause a user to fall orbe injured. Also, when used in the angled down position, the winch bar60 does not result in the handle portion 42 extending down at as steepan angle as might occur with the prior art winch bar 38, and a user doesnot have to bend over as far to tighten a strap 32.

Because of the lateral offset distance 102, resulting from the offsetangle 90, the compensating angle 98, and the length 86 of the reachportion 80, however, the winch bar 60 provides an ample obstacleclearance area or zone 106 alongside the elongate reach portion 80 andthe elongate third portion 92. By rotating the winch bar through 180degrees about the central longitudinal axis 68 of the winch driveengagement portion 62, between the position shown in solid line in FIG.7 and the opposite position shown in broken line, the obstacle clearancezone 106 may be used to extend the angle through which the winch drivehub 26 may be rotated about the axis 28 by movement of the winch bar 60with the drive engagement portion 62 engaged in a single socket 30.

Referring next to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, each of generally similar winchbars 110, 112, and 114 has a single compensating angle, and the size ofeach offset angle 116, 118, and 120 may be slightly larger than therespective compensating angle 122, 124, or 126. The compensating angle122, 124, or 126 is the only compensating angle, so that as shown inFIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, it compensates for the respective offset angle116, 118, or 120. Depending upon the length 128, 130, or 132 of therespective reach portion, each compensating angle 122, 124, or 126 maybe chosen to result in the handle portion 134, 136, or 138 being areturn portion, that is, being directed obliquely toward and eventuallyintersecting an extension 140 of the central longitudinal axis 142 ofthe winch drive engagement portion 144 of the respective one of thewinch bars 110, 112, and 114. The outer end of the handle portion 134,136, or 138, as a result, lies generally in alignment with the centralaxis 142 of the winch drive engagement portion 144. The compensatingangle 122, 124, or 126 thus is an obtuse angle directly related to thelength 128, 130, or 132 of the respective reach portion and of therespective elongate third portion 148, 150, or 152.

As a result, when the drive engagement portion 144 of one of the winchbars 110, 112, or 114 is engaged with a socket 30 in a winch drive hubor receiver 26 the winch bar extends generally radially anddiametrically with respect to the hub or receiver 26. Discounting asmall angular divergence permitted by the taper of the winch driveengagement portion 144, the outer end of the handle portion 134, 136, or138 is in the same radially extending line. A force applied to thehandle portion 134, 136, or 138 in the general direction of the arrow146 in FIG. 8A, 8B, or 8C, but at an angle, will thus have practicallyno lever arm about the central axis 142 through which to act to urge thewinch drive engagement portion 144 to rotate within the socket 30 tocreate a conical movement of the handle as is possible with the priorart winch bar 38 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C show winch bars 160, 162, and 164 which areembodiments each including two compensating angles 170 and 172, whereeach first compensating angle 170 opposes the direction of the offsetangle 174, and the respective second compensating angle 172 opposes thedirection of the first compensating angle 170 and is similar in size, toalign the longitudinal handle axis 176 of the handle portion 178 withthe central longitudinal axis 180 of the winch spool drive engagementportion 182 of each of the winch bars 160, 162, and 164. The firstcompensating angle 170 may be of various sizes, as desired, and thusmight be as small as 80 or 90 degrees or as large as 160 degrees. Thesecond compensating angle 172 thus delineates an outer end of theelongate third portion 184, and an inner end of the handle portion 178.In this arrangement, the winch spool drive engagement portion 182, thereach portion 188, the elongate third portion 184, and the handleportion 178 are preferably all coplanar with each other, so that theoffset angle 174, the first compensating angle 170, and the secondcompensating angle 172 are all in the same plane, as well. As may beseen in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, by selecting the sizes of the offset angle174, the first compensating angle 170, and the second compensating angle172 and choosing the lengths of the reach portion 188 and the elongatethird portion 184, an obstacle clearance area 192 may be defined in anappropriate size and having a maximum offset distance 194 from thecentral longitudinal axis of the winch spool drive engagement portion182 located at the first compensating angle 170. As a result, the winchbars 160, 162, and 164 may be used with the respective reach portion 188of each directed as shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, to avoid an obstaclenear the winch and near the bottom of a strap-winding swing or stroke ofthe respective winch bar, and the winch bar may be rotated 180 degreesabout the central longitudinal axis 180 of the winch spool driveengagement portion 182 to avoid an obstacle near the winch near the topor beginning of a winding stroke of the winch bar, to permit the driveengagement portion 182 to be inserted into a socket 30 in the spooldrive hub or receiver 26 of the winch while the ratchet pawl 22 retainsthe winch spool 24 in the position achieved by a previous winch barwinding stroke.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, in a pair of generally similar winch bars200 and 202 an elongate third portion 204 may be substantially parallelwith or may extend at a small angle with respect to the centrallongitudinal axis 206 of the winch spool drive engagement portion 208,and a second compensating angle 210 delineates a return portion 212 thatis coplanar with the reach portion 214 and the elongate third portion204 and that is directed obliquely away from the elongate third portionand towards an extension of the central longitudinal axis of the driveengagement portion 208. A third compensating angle 216 at an outer endof the return portion 212 demarcates a handle portion 218 that may beparallel with and collinear with the winch spool drive engagementportion 208. The reach portion 214, elongate third portion 204, andreturn portion 212 thus provide an obstacle clearance area 220 with alateral offset dimension 222 provided throughout the length of theelongate third portion 204, between the outer end of the reach portion214 and the inner end of the return portion 212. At the same time, thehandle portion 218 of the winch bar is not susceptible to a conical spinthat might injure a user as in use of the prior art winch bar 38,because the handle 218 is collinear with the winch spool driveengagement portion 208.

As may be seen by comparison of the winch bars shown in FIGS. 10A and10B with each other, the lateral offset dimension 222 and thelongitudinal location and dimensions of the obstacle clearance area 220provided by the winch bar may vary, with different dimensions being moreor less desirable depending on factors such as, for example, the types,sizes, and locations of obstacles common to a particular type of flatbedtruck or trailer, or to the size and spacing of teeth in the ratchetwheel 20 of the strap winches 18 used on a particular flatbed truck ortrailer.

As shown in FIG. 11, when a winch bar such as the winch bar 60 shown inFIG. 7 has encountered an obstacle such as the tire 230 of a truck whena strap-tightening stroke is made beginning with the reach portion 80angled down with respect to the winch drive engagement portion 62, thatis, in the position shown in broken line in FIGS. 7 and 11, the winchbar 60 may then be allowed to move upward until the pawl 22 engages atooth of the ratchet wheel 20 to hold the strap 32, and the winch bar 60can be rotated in the socket 30 of the winch spool drive hub 26, asindicated by the arrow 232, to the position shown in solid line in FIG.11, which will allow the winch spool to be rotated further about itsaxis of rotation 28 while the same socket 30 is engaged by the driveengagement portion 62. The ratchet pawl 22 may then engage a subsequenttooth of the ratchet wheel 20, thus holding the strap 32 in a tightercondition, so that the winch bar 60 can be removed from the socket 30and can be inserted into the next socket 30, if it is necessary tocontinue tightening the strap 26.

The compensating angle or angles may be provided in a winch bar 60, 112,160, etc., in several different ways. In order to provide a winch barthat is not unduly heavy, it may be desirable to use a hollow, pipeconstruction except for the winch drive engagement portion and some orall of the reach portion. A winch bar lever arm portion of pipeconstruction could be cut into two parts 236 and 238 at anon-perpendicular angle, after which one portion may be rotated 180degrees with respect to the other and the two portions 236 and 238 maythen be welded together as shown in FIG. 12, to form an angledconnection, either with or without an end-supporting insert 240 of thetype shown in FIG. 12, in which a radially protruding annular ridge 242may help support a weld joint.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, in the winch bar 60 the winch driveengagement portion 62, the reach portion 80, and an initial portion 244of the elongate third portion 92 including an insert portion 246, may beof solid forged or cast metal, and a further part 248 of the elongatethird portion 92, of hollow tubular metal, may be fitted over the insertportion 246 and welded in place at 250.

As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, an angle may be provided in a tubularportion 254 of a winch bar by cutting the tubular portion 254 on twointersecting planes 256 and 258 to form two separate portions 254 a and254 b, then rotating one of the portions 180 degrees about itslongitudinal axis relative to the other, as indicated by the arrow. Thetwo portions are then welded together again as shown in FIG. 14B, with adesired angle 260 provided as a result of the locations of the planes256 and 258 along which the cuts were made. This sort of joint providesa longer weld and a potentially stronger joint than the single cut shownin FIG. 12.

As another alternative construction, tubular portions 264 and 266 may beslid over and welded to solid forged or cast portions 268 and 270 andwelded in place, as shown in FIG. 15.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications andchanges may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing fromthe scope of the claimed invention. Other embodiments are possible,their specific designs depending upon the particular application.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoingspecification are used therein as terms of description and not oflimitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms andexpressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and describedor portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the inventionis defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

1. A winch bar, comprising: (a) a winch drive engagement portion havinga root end and a tip and defining a first central longitudinal axis andadapted to engage a winch with said first central longitudinal axisextending in a radial direction with respect to said winch; (b) anelongate reach portion having a first end attached to the root end ofthe winch drive engagement portion and having an opposite second end,the reach portion extending away from the drive engagement portion at anobtuse angle and defining a reach portion central axis intersecting thefirst central longitudinal axis and thereby defining an obtuse offsetangle; and (c) an elongate third portion having a longitudinal axisextending from an inner end to an opposite outer end of the thirdportion, the inner end of the third portion being interconnected withthe second end of the reach portion, the third portion extending awayfrom the second end of the reach portion, and the longitudinal axis ofthe elongate third portion and the reach portion central axis definingan obtuse compensating angle, the compensating angle resulting in thelongitudinal axis of the third portion being more nearly parallel withthe first central longitudinal axis than is the reach central axis, andwherein said winch bar extends in a radial direction from a winch whensaid winch drive engagement portion is engaged therein in with the firstcentral longitudinal axis extending in a radial direction.
 2. The winchbar of claim 1 wherein the offset angle and the compensating angle areboth in a single plane.
 3. The winch bar of claim 1 wherein the elongatethird portion includes a handle and an outer end of the winch bar. 4.The winch bar of claim 1 wherein the first central longitudinal axis,the reach central axis, and the longitudinal axis of the elongate thirdportion are coplanar.
 5. The winch bar of claim 4 wherein the elongatethird portion extends obliquely towards an extension of the firstcentral longitudinal axis.
 6. The winch bar of claim 1 including anelongate return portion having an inner end and an outer end anddefining a return portion longitudinal axis, the inner end of theelongate return portion being interconnected with the outer end of theelongate third portion, and the longitudinal axis of the elongate thirdportion intersecting the return portion longitudinal axis and therebydefining a second compensating angle.
 7. The winch bar of claim 6wherein the return portion longitudinal axis is parallel with the firstcentral longitudinal axis of the winch drive engagement portion.
 8. Thewinch bar of claim 6 including an elongate handle portion having aninner end interconnected with the outer end of the return portion, thehandle portion having a handle axis intersecting the return portionlongitudinal axis and thereby defining a third compensating angle. 9.The winch bar of claim 8 wherein the handle axis is parallel with thefirst central longitudinal axis of the winch drive engagement portion.10. The winch bar of claim 8 wherein the handle axis is coincident withan extension of the first central longitudinal axis of the winch driveengagement portion.
 11. The winch bar of claim 6 wherein the reachportion, the elongate third portion, and the return portion togetherdefine an obstacle clearance area.
 12. The winch bar of claim 1 whereinthe winch drive engagement portion is tapered inward from the root endtoward the tip and the tip has a radially outwardly directed catch. 13.The winch bar of claim 1 wherein the reach portion and the elongatethird portion together define an obstacle clearance area.
 14. A winchbar, comprising: (a) a winch drive engagement portion having a root endand defining a first central longitudinal axis; (b) an elongate reachportion having a first end attached to the root end of the winch driveengagement portion and having an opposite second end, the reach portiondefining a reach portion central axis intersecting the first centrallongitudinal axis and thereby defining an obtuse offset angle; and (c)an elongate third portion having a longitudinal axis and having an innerend interconnected with the second end of the reach portion, thelongitudinal axis of the elongate third portion and the reach centralaxis defining a compensating angle; wherein the compensating angleresults in the longitudinal axis of the third portion being more nearlyparallel with the first central longitudinal axis than is the reachcentral axis; wherein the first central longitudinal axis, the reachcentral axis, and the longitudinal axis of the elongate third portionare coplanar; and wherein the elongate third portion extends obliquelytowards an extension of the first central longitudinal axis.
 15. Thewinch bar of claim 14 wherein the elongate third portion includes ahandle and an outer end of the winch bar.
 16. A winch bar, comprising:(a) a winch drive engagement portion having a root end and defining afirst central longitudinal axis; (b) an elongate reach portion having afirst end attached to the root end of the winch engagement portion andhaving an opposite second end, the reach portion thereby defining anoffset angle with respect to the first central longitudinal axis; (c) anelongate third portion having a pair of opposite inner and outer endsdefining a central longitudinal axis thereof, the inner end beinginterconnected with the second end of the reach portion and the thirdportion defining a compensating angle with respect to the reach portion,and the compensating angle resulting in the central longitudinal axis ofthe third portion being more nearly parallel with the first centrallongitudinal axis than is the reach portion; (d) an elongate returnportion having an inner end and an outer end and defining a returnportion longitudinal axis, the inner end of the elongate return portionbeing interconnected with the outer end of the elongate third portion,and the elongate third portion intersecting the return portion andthereby defining a second compensating angle; and (e) an elongate handleportion having an inner end interconnected with the outer end of thereturn portion and thereby defining a third compensating angle.
 17. Thewinch bar of claim 16 wherein the handle portion has a handle axiscoincident with an extension of the first central longitudinal axis ofthe winch drive engagement portion.
 18. A winch bar, comprising: (a) awinch drive engagement portion defining a first central longitudinalaxis and adapted to engage a winch drive socket with said first centrallongitudinal axis extending in a radial direction; (b) an elongate reachportion having a first end attached to the winch engagement portion andhaving an opposite second end, the reach portion extending away from thedrive engagement portion at an obtuse angle and defining a reach portioncentral axis intersecting the first central longitudinal axis andthereby defining an offset angle; and (c) an elongate third portionhaving a longitudinal axis, the third portion being interconnected withand extending away from the second end of the reach portion, thelongitudinal axis of the third portion and the reach central axisdefining an obtuse compensating angle, and the compensating angle beingseparated laterally from the first central longitudinal axis by alateral offset distance, providing an obstacle clearance zone alongsidethe reach portion, and wherein said winch bar extends in a radialdirection from a winch drive socket when said winch drive engagementportion is engaged therein with the central longitudinal axis extendingin a radial direction.